History
"AstraZeneca, which manufactures breast cancer drugs Arimidex and Tamoxifen, founded the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the year 1985. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer."
"The number of companies promoting breast cancer awareness increased has over the years."
"In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the Pink Ribbon as its symbol, though this was not the first the ribbon was used to symbolize breast cancer. In the fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation had handed out Pink Ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors."
Activities and events
The National Race for the Cure
"In October 1983 the Race for the Cure was held for the first time in Dallas, Texas, where 800 people participated. According to the organizers, by 2002 the number of participants reached 1.3 million and the event was held in over 100 US cities. The event is also being organized in several other parts of the World."
Australia and New Zealand - Dove Pink Star walk
Germany - Komen Frankfurt Race for the Cure
Netherlands - Walk for Women
Italy - Komen Italia Race for the Cure
United Kingdom - Race for my wife and Race for life
Canada - Run for the Cure
Hungary - Avon One-Day Walk for Life
Puerto Rico - Komen Puerto Rico Race for the Cure
Bulgaria - Breast Cancer Walk
Breast Cancer 2 Day
"There are various two-day-long walks to raise money for breast cancer research institutes. Avon sponsors a 39 mile (60 km) walk. A walk in Atlanta offers varying lengths of up to 30 miles. Canada's large "Weekend to End Breast Cancer" features a 60 km walk."
Breast Cancer 3 Day
"This sixty mile fundraising walk, which is spread across 3 days, raises money for breast cancer research. This walk, which benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust, occurs in several cities in the United States. The Breast Cancer 3-Day was previously sponsored and managed by Avon."
Bulgaria - Breast Cancer Walk
Czech Republic - Breast Cancer Conference
France - 5km Breast Cancer Race/Walk
Germany - Women's 5k/10k Walk Run
Greece - Recognition dinner and Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Fashion show
Hungary - Walk for Life
Ireland - Breast Cancer Walk
Italy - Breast cancer Awareness event
Poland - Breast Cancer Walk
Portugal - Educational walk-a-thon
Romania - Breast Cancer Walk
Russia - Press conference
Slovakia - Press conference
Spain - Breast Cancer Walk
Turkey - "Trip to Health with Avon" walk
Ukraine - Breast Cancer awareness walk
United Kingdom - "Celebrating Life" award ceremony
Ride to Empower
The Ride to Empower started in 2008 and raises money for Breast Cancer Network of Strength's programs. The Ride to Empower is a destination bike ride, with fully-supported route lengths ranging from a 100 miles to less than 32 miles. The location for the Ride to Empower changes yearly."
Global Illumination
"Estée Lauder Companies has arranged to have more than a dozen world-famous landmarks illuminated in pink light to draw attention to the importance of mammography screening for early diagnosis of breast cancer as well as the research for finding ways to cure and prevent breast cancer. Some of these landmarks are:
The Harbour Bridge: Sydney, Australia
The Hangzhou Department Store: Hangzhou, China
Niagara Falls - Ontario, Canada
The Eden Project - Cornwall, England
The Majestic Hotel - Cannes, France
The French Affiliate Building - Paris, France
The Angel of Peace - Munich, Germany
City Hall - Reykjavik, Iceland
Azrieli Towers - Tel Aviv, Israel
Constantine's Arch - Rome, Italy
The Arena - Verona, Italy
Tokyo Tower - Tokyo, Japan
City Hall Square - Seoul, Korea
The Dam Square - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Skytower - Auckland, New Zealand
Pink days
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October, people raise money by organizing activities such as theme parties or a "pink day" (when employees wear pink clothing or accessories) at work. The money raised is donated to the organizers' choice of breast cancer care or research programs.
Criticisms
Corporate Sponsorship
"It has been alleged that "the BCAM idea 'was conceived and paid for by a British chemical company that both profits from this epidemic and may be contributing to its cause...'". The term Pinkwashing has been used by Breast Cancer Action to describe the actions of companies which manufacture and use chemicals which show a link with breast cancer and at the same time publicly support charities focused on curing the disease. Other criticisms center on the marketing of "pink products" and tie ins, citing that more money is spent marketing these campaigns than is donated to the cause."
Cure as "Treatment" vs. "Prevention"
"The Cancer Prevention Coalition has criticized the basic message of NBCAM as a form of victim blaming because it focuses on "early detection and treatment" while ignoring environmental factors. According Aaron Blair, Ph.D., chief of the Occupational Epidemiology Branch in National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, For breast cancer, hormone use is one of the major factors affecting risk. According to Rose Marie Williams, a columnist for the Townsend Letter, drug, chemical, and biotechnology companies have a vested interest in treating the disease rather than finding ways to minimize its rate of incidence. Recent studies show that breast cancer is linked to several environmental and genetic factors which can be controlled or mitigated."
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